Samisoni Viriviri (rugby union coach)
Fijian rugby union footballer and coach (1953–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Samisoni Viriviri (1953 - 28 April 2021, Sacramento, USA) was a Fijian rugby union footballer and coach. He played as a scrum-half. He is grandfather of his namesake; Samisoni Viriviri, who plays as wing for Fiji.
| Born | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Samisoni Viriviri (grandson)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
His first cap for Fiji was during a match against Australia, at Brisbane, on 9 June 1976. His last cap was during a match against England XV, at Twickenham, on 16 October 1982. In his career he played 24 matches and scored 12 points, 1 try, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal and 1 conversion.[3] He was also part of the legendary 1977 Fiji XV that beat the British and Irish Lions in Suva.
Coaching career
Between 1989 and 1991, Viriviri coached the Fiji national rugby union team, which he coached during the 1991 Rugby World Cup.